Beginner looking for mid-Feb Mexico/CR trip advice

[mightyjak]

Looking to plan a trip beginning in mid-February for 4-6 weeks in either Mexico or Costa Rica, coming from the states. Along the way the way I'd like to find a place to learn to surf. As a complete beginner, I'm gonna need some advice.

I've been nosing around the boards, looking for info and have seen a few places mentioned, one being Cabo. While I like the night life and don't mind meeting people, I'm looking for something fairly laid back, relaxed, not incredibly expensive and not completely overrun, especially around spring break.

1. Are surf camps worth the time and money? If so, can anyone recommend a good one in in either Mexico or Costa Rica. Also, can you just arrange for lessons through a shop on the beach? What should I expect to pay for either a surf camp or lessons?

2. Never been to Costa Rica or coastal Mexico, what can you get by on per day for a roof over your head, a couple of decent meals and a few beers? I've traveled a lot throughout Asia and India and my standards are fairly low (read: cheap xxxxx).

3. I know the season may not be ideal surfing, but how will the surf be? Is it decent enough to warrant a trip or should I look elsewhere? I'm flexible on locales in Central America also. Anything besides Mexico and CR to check out?

[txsurfer]

i dont know much about mainland mex myself from experience allthough i do know quite a bit from research. moving on, i do know about a little place in costa rica i stayed in the guanacaste region, which is pacific side, but north west. there is a little town called nosara. its sooooooo laid back, little bars to chill, a disco called tropicana in (tico nosara, the main part of town where the locals live) a decent surf bar called blew dogs (sometimes overrun by typical long blonde haird wanna be cali types). we stayed in a little hotel called the guilded iguana, biggest room (slept 5) with ac, was 60 a nite in low season (july - nov). u can check out the town www.nosara.com and they have some gret local breaks. Playa Pelada is where u might wanna spend some time learning allthough its a left. Playa Guiones tends to get big, (my first day was close to double overhead) but its super clean, and very heavy beach break. i highly, HIGHLY, recomend this area. not overrun like jaco and tamarindo. im talking monkeys in the trees, waking u up at 5am, lush thick jungle. all dirt roads leading in for like 40KM. www.leetgeek.net/images/costa%20rica is all of my pictures (not many and none of surf) of our trip there. pm me or whatever for more info dude. have a good trip!

[Samuel]

yo man, spent 2 great weeks in costa rica in april 04, great time, went to pavones.. amazing left hander, goes on for about half a mile. no exageration! bunked up with a nice family run hostel kind of place. 3 beds, our own bath and shower, $5 ech per night. great laid back bar and restaurant right next door, you can't book ahead so make sure you get there before a swell hits to secure a room.

its a full days drive from san jose, but the atmoshphere is good for karma

Sam